Kansspelautoriteit fined Global Stars

Kansspelautoriteit, the Dutch gambling regulator, has fined online gaming provider Global Stars €100,000 ($132,000) for targeting consumers in the Netherlands without a license to operate in the country.

The watchdog said that the Curaçao-based company established a service that focused on the Dutch market through the Myglobalgames.com, Boekjesbingo.nl and Myglobalgames.nl websites between June 2012 and May 2013.

According to the regulator, the company targeted customers in the Netherlands by using Dutch on their websites and using the ‘.nl’ country code at the end of internet domain names.

The watchdog added that the fine would represent “a clear signal to businesses and consumers”.

Jan Suyver, chairman of the board of directors at Kansspelautoriteit, said: “It is of social importance that consumers are informed and warned that if they participate in online gambling there are risks… and I expect this decision to have a preventive impact on other companies and individuals.”